LIVE AND LOCAL – Supporting Local Music in Oxfordshire
Every Band Has to Start Somewhere
Every established band once played an early gig.
Every experienced musician once walked onto a stage without knowing quite what would happen next.
And somewhere along the way, somebody gave them an opportunity.
LIVE AND LOCAL is how Paul Robins Promotions helps create some of those opportunities.
Alongside the established touring tribute productions and live shows appearing at The Northcourt LIVE in Abingdon, we regularly give local, original and developing musicians the opportunity to perform in front of a genuine live audience.
Some are established performers from the Oxfordshire music scene. Some are new bands still developing their sound and stagecraft. Others are independent original artists travelling from further afield simply because they want their music to be heard.
They don't all arrive at the same point in their journey.
That's the point.
Supporting Grassroots Live Music in Oxfordshire
For us, supporting grassroots music means more than describing ourselves as supporters of local bands.
It means actually putting musicians on the stage.
Paul Robins Promotions primarily presents professionally produced tribute concerts and live entertainment, but local and original musicians have become an important part of our programme.
Selected artists are given opportunities to perform alongside established touring productions, experiencing the same stage, professional sound and lighting, production crew and concert environment as the headline act.
For a developing band accustomed to rehearsals, pubs or smaller stages, performing at The Northcourt LIVE can represent another step forward.
For an established local band, it can mean reaching an audience that may never have encountered them before.
And sometimes it leads to another booking.
From Support Band to Headliner – Sabertooth
One of our best examples is Oxfordshire original band Sabertooth.
Sabertooth have appeared at The Northcourt LIVE on several occasions and have developed their own audience through playing original music around Oxfordshire.
In June 2026, that relationship took another step.
Paul Robins Promotions gave Sabertooth the opportunity to headline their own show at The Northcourt LIVE, celebrating the release of their debut album.
And the cycle continued, with developing local band mOrTiFi'D opening the show.
That's exactly what we want LIVE AND LOCAL to represent.
A local band can take an opportunity, develop its live experience, return to our stage and ultimately become the headline act – while helping create an opportunity for somebody else.
Second Hour – Oxford Original Music
Second Hour are an Oxford original hard-rock band who have developed through the local grassroots circuit.
They've repeatedly competed in Oxford's Metal to the Masses competition, progressing through audience and judges' votes while building experience performing their own material in front of live audiences.
Rather than giving Second Hour a single appearance and moving on, Paul Robins Promotions has booked them for two shows at The Northcourt LIVE across 2026 and 2027.
They appear with METEORA – The Linkin Park Tribute Show in October 2026 before returning as special guests of Shef Leppard in 2027.
That's another important part of LIVE AND LOCAL.
When a band works well with our events and audiences, one opportunity can become another.
Developing the Next Generation
Our connection with grassroots music can begin long before a musician reaches The Northcourt LIVE stage.
Supporting sound engineer Aaron Iley runs The Rock Project Oxford, helping young musicians learn, develop confidence, play together and gain experience of performing live.
Aaron is assisted by Connor, who is also part of our extended production team and steps in on concert lighting when required.
Among the young musicians they've helped are Karnage.
In October 2026, Karnage step onto The Northcourt LIVE stage alongside another developing act, Sea Shed, as part of our Ultimate Green Day show.
It demonstrates a pathway that matters enormously to grassroots music:
Learn. Rehearse. Form a band. Perform. Gain experience. Step onto a bigger stage.
Nobody starts as the finished article.
Somebody has to give musicians their first opportunity.
Somebody else has to give them their next one.
Local Bands Bringing Local Audiences
Grassroots music doesn't work without audiences.
Local band Hazy Rock demonstrated that when they appeared for Paul Robins Promotions.
Their supporters followed them from their regular local performances to The Northcourt LIVE and, importantly, bought tickets to support the band.
A local support act can introduce its followers to a new venue and headline artist, while the headline audience discovers musicians they may never previously have encountered.
Hazy Rock earned another opportunity and return to The Northcourt LIVE as special guests of Slade UK.
That's grassroots live music working exactly as it should:
the band supports the event, its audience supports live music, and another opportunity is created.
Finding the Right Place for Local Musicians
Supporting local music doesn't mean every band needs to become a headline attraction.
Sometimes a band works particularly well as part of a larger bill.
Dirty Mynds have become familiar guests at Paul Robins Promotions events, including appearances performing their AC/DC material.
They return in October 2026 with a rock anthems set as part of ROCK FESTEVIL, alongside Ozzy's Blizzard and HAEMA.
Road Crew member Lewis Wells also drums with Dirty Mynds and Oxfordshire band Purple Grace.
Finding the right opportunity for an artist matters more to us than simply putting another name on a poster.
A successful support appearance can introduce musicians to new listeners, strengthen the overall show and create opportunities for future performances.
Original Music Has a Place Here Too
LIVE AND LOCAL isn't restricted to Oxfordshire musicians.
We also support independent original artists prepared to travel to Abingdon for the opportunity to perform their own music in front of a different audience.
One regular visitor is Educatable Music.
Educatable has travelled to The Northcourt LIVE several times to perform his own acoustic music as part of Paul Robins Promotions shows, sometimes simply because he wanted the opportunity to play.
He returns in April 2027 alongside Ultimate Coldplay.
Then there are bands such as Birmingham horror-glam rockers Disciples of Sin, who perform their own material and return to Abingdon in November 2026 as special guests of Motörheadache.
They're very different artists.
What connects them is simple:
they want to play their own music, and we're happy to give independent musicians opportunities when we have the right show for them.
An Opportunity Isn't a Guarantee
LIVE AND LOCAL isn't an open promise of a booking.
And one appearance doesn't automatically guarantee another.
Every support artist has to be appropriate for the headline act, the audience and the particular event.
Some musicians arrive with years of experience. Others are still learning what works on stage. Some bands return repeatedly. Others appear once and continue their journey somewhere else.
That's live music.
We don't believe supporting grassroots music means pretending every developing band is already the finished article.
It means giving musicians a genuine opportunity to become better.
What they do with that opportunity is up to them.
Musicians Supporting Musicians
The grassroots connection also exists behind the stage.
The people who help deliver Paul Robins Promotions events aren't simply people wearing crew shirts on show night.
Several members of #WeAreTheRoadCrew and our wider production team are musicians themselves.
Richard Addison has a long history of playing in bands and currently sings with local band White Ridge.
Lewis Wells plays drums with Purple Grace and Dirty Mynds alongside his work with our Road Crew and concert production.
Umair Chaudhry is the musician behind Silent Weapon and also operates his own recording studio.
Supporting sound engineer Aaron Iley combines live production with his work helping young musicians through The Rock Project Oxford, assisted by Connor Shortt
Our team collectively has experience of performing, recording, sound engineering, lighting, promotion and helping developing musicians gain confidence on stage.
We don't simply work around live music. We play it, record it, produce it and help other people discover it.
#WeAreTheRoadCrew
Nothing we do happens because of one person.
Every Paul Robins Promotions show depends on the people working long before the doors open and after the audience has gone home.
From stage preparation, sound and lighting to artist support, customer care and event operations, #WeAreTheRoadCrew helps turn a booking on a calendar into an actual live show.
The work continues away from the venue too.
Our promotional video content is produced by Hayden Robins, affectionately known within the team as “Our Own Prince of Darkness.”
When the stage goes quiet during our summer break, members of the team have even headed into the recording studio together to make music and keep the Paul Robins Promotions community entertained until the shows return.
Paul Robins Promotions organises the events.
But it takes a team to make the show happen.
Are You in an Oxfordshire Band?
We're always interested in discovering musicians from Abingdon, Oxford and across Oxfordshire.
That doesn't mean every band that contacts us will receive a support slot.
The music has to fit.
The event has to fit.
And we need to believe that putting you in front of our audience makes sense for both the band and the show.
If you're interested in a future LIVE AND LOCAL opportunity, tell us about your band.
Send us your music, some live footage where possible, information about previous shows and anything else that helps us understand what you do.
We can't promise everybody a gig.
But we're always prepared to discover somebody new.
Support the Support Band
There's something audiences can do too.
Turn up early.
The musicians opening a show may not be the reason you originally bought your ticket, but give them a chance.
Watch them. Applaud them. Follow them if you like what you hear. Tell somebody about them. Buy some merchandise if they've brought some.
Every established band started somewhere, and every musician remembers the audiences who supported them while they were getting there.
You might arrive at The Northcourt LIVE to see the headline act and leave having discovered another band.
That's part of the joy of live music.
LIVE AND LOCAL at The Northcourt LIVE
The Northcourt LIVE is in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, with audiences travelling to our shows from across the county and beyond.
That gives local and developing musicians an opportunity to perform not only for people from Abingdon, but for audiences travelling from Oxford, Didcot, Wantage, Witney and surrounding communities.
Find out more about visiting The Northcourt LIVE or view all upcoming live music and events.
You can also discover live music near Witney and explore more live music across Oxfordshire with Paul Robins Promotions.
Local musicians. Original music. Developing artists. Established touring productions. One stage.
LIVE AND LOCAL
What is LIVE AND LOCAL?
LIVE AND LOCAL represents Paul Robins Promotions' support for local, original and developing musicians. Selected artists are given opportunities to perform at The Northcourt LIVE alongside established touring acts and tribute productions.
Does Paul Robins Promotions support grassroots music?
Yes. Alongside our programme of established touring productions, Paul Robins Promotions provides selected local, original and developing musicians with opportunities to perform at The Northcourt LIVE in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.
Where can I see local bands in Abingdon?
Local and original artists appear on selected Paul Robins Promotions bills throughout the year. Check our upcoming events at The Northcourt LIVE to see what's coming up.
Can an original band play at The Northcourt LIVE?
Potentially. Support opportunities depend on musical style, headline artist, audience and the requirements of each event. We consider bands individually rather than operating an automatic booking system for local artists.
Do you only support bands from Abingdon?
No. We work with musicians from across Oxfordshire as well as independent original artists from further afield when they're appropriate for an event.
Can a support band be invited back?
Yes. Several artists have returned for further Paul Robins Promotions appearances. A successful support slot can lead to another opportunity when we have an appropriate future event.
Can a local band headline a Paul Robins Promotions show?
Yes. Sabertooth progressed through appearances on our stage to headlining their own show at The Northcourt LIVE in June 2026 to celebrate the release of their debut album.
Does LIVE AND LOCAL include young musicians?
Where an appropriate opportunity exists, developing young musicians can be considered. Our wider production team also has direct connections with music development through Aaron Iley and The Rock Project Oxford.
Do bands need previous live experience?
Experience helps, but developing musicians need opportunities to gain that experience in the first place. What matters is whether we believe an artist is ready for the particular opportunity and appropriate for the event.
How can my band be considered?
Contact Paul Robins Promotions with information about your band, links to your music and, ideally, footage showing you performing live. We can't guarantee a booking, but we're always interested in discovering suitable artists.
Where is The Northcourt LIVE?
The Northcourt LIVE is on Northcourt Road in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Our venue guide includes information about visiting the venue, travel, parking and attending a show.